If ourfestival bucket listkick-started the planning of an epic trip, then it's time to squeeze some conferences in there too. The conference is where business meets pleasure, and where industry and fans come together for days (and sometimes weeks) of panels, discussions, workshops...and a whole lot of parties and gigs. Here, in no particular order, are ten of the best to get stuck into this year.
1. Winter Music Conference [Miami, USA]
As someone who lived in Miami for three years, Winter Music Conference is ten days of the most chaotic heaven one can imagine. Each year, at the end of March, thousands of artists, music industry delegates and dance music enthusiasts flock to the sunny city of Miami to attend many of the 500+ events, parties, seminars and workshops. With annual parties like Get Lost, Paradise, Last Resort, and more, there is literally always something to do, somewhere to go and someone to see, and the entire city is buzzing with an energy that is infectious. One of the best things about WMC is that you don’t need a pass to attend. Tickets to events are sold independently which makes it easier to pick and choose which to attend. Time management is very important! WMC is in its 29th consecutive year and is happening from March 21st to March 30th. [Sonali Sen Sharma]
2. Rio Music Conference [Brazil]
Born in 2009, Rio Music Conference has quickly become the largest gathering for electronic music and entertainment in the Southern Hemisphere. It has grown to include five regional gatherings in addition to its annual national edition. At just over two weeks in length, Rio Music Conference’s main edition consists of countless day and night events including panels, showcases, and workshops, and is followed by the festival portion held during Carnivale. This year the festival featured performances by international artists such as Armin van Buuren, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Fatboy Slim, and Marco Carola as well as a selection of talented local artists. [Liz Mallalieu]
3. London Electronic Music Event (LEME) [England]
LEME is the UK’s premier annual electronic music conference, featuring over 30 production workshops, industry panel discussions, artist keynotes, networking sessions and live performances. Now in it’s 3rd year, LEME returns again with a powerhouse of artists and speakers, including Theo Parish and Red D (FCL), in-studio production workshops, and master classes on topics including bigger bass lines, compression and acoustics in the home studio, as well as industry panels like “What Is 'Underground' And Does It Matter?”, "The Art Of Sampling," and "Role Of The Record Label Today,” and of course, after parties around the city. LEME is the perfect place to step up your game as an aspiring artist, network, and hear from some of the best minds in the industry today. More info at www.londonelectronicmusicevent.com [Chandler Shortlidge]
4. IMS Ibiza [Spain]
Now in its 7th year, IMS Ibiza is regarded as one of the most important music industry gatherings in the world, officially signaling the start to the Ibiza season. During the day there are keynote presentations and seminars from key players in the industry on a wide array of subjects, as well as conversations with musical giants like Nile Rodgers. Hosted by the one and only Pete Tong, and founded by figureheads Ben Turner, Danny Whittle and Mark Netto, IMS offers even the most experienced industry heads the chance to share ideas with their peers, elders and the next generation. But the cherry on top is the Grand Finale, taking place at the Unesco World Heritage Site of Dalt Vila, with artists like Sven Vath, Maya Jane Coles, and Seth Troxler rocking thousands. Plus, it’s in sunny Ibiza - can’t be beat. More info at www.internationalmusicsummit.com/ibiza [Chandler Shortlidge]
5. IMS Engage [Los Angeles, USA]
The popular Ibiza conference gave birth to a younger sister last year, with IMS Engage kicking off for the first time at Hollywood's W Hotel. And boy did it kick off. Along with a star-studded list of guest speakers in the form of Skrillex, Diplo, Pete Tong, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, and Beatport CEO Matthew Adell, there was even the kind of action no one could have expected when a fist fight broke out between DJ BL3ND's and Diplo's managers. The rooftop pool drinks weren't bad either. If you wanna see first hand what goes down at this year's IMS Engage on April 16, then you better grab yourself a pass. [Henry Johnstone]
6. Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) [Netherlands]
This Amsterdam festival is the place for the industry to round off the year, but it’s much more than a music conference. The uber-professional city-wide five dayer is a raver’s paradise: almost every club in the city is in on the action, with line-ups that would put London, Berlin and Paris to shame happening twenty times a night, in venues as diverse as a gasworks (Gashouder) and an old newspaper mill (Trouw), right down to intimate canal-front bars and stadiums. The daytime is for checking out new technology and visiting panels and seminars with A-listers, with an equal amount of learning and networking rounding things off. No one loves their clubbing more than the Dutch, and few cities host it better: ADE is the epitome of this. More info at www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl [Guy Hornsby]
7. EDMbiz [Las Vegas, USA]
For two years now, EDMbiz has brought together some of the best and brightest minds in the electronic music industry to Las Vegas for three days of panels, workshops, and keynote addresses. Spearheaded by Insomniac Events, the music conference takes place annually during EDC Week, which culminates with Insomniac’s flagship festival, Electric Daisy Carnival. Last year alone, industry executives from CAA, Beatport, SIRIUSXM, SFX Entertainment, and more as well as artists like Steve Aoki, Kaskade, Steve Angello, and Above & Beyond gathered for inspiring conversations relevant to today’s electronic music scene. In addition to the daytime events, attendees are able to experience Las Vegas nightlife at its best. The 2014 edition of EDMbiz is set to take place from June 17th to June 19 at The Cosmopolitan Hotel of Las Vegas. [Liz Mallalieu]
8. Brighton Music Conference (BMC) [England]
Though the BMC is only in its first year, the buzz around this event couldn’t be stronger, standing out as one of the more educational conferences of today, with 60 workshops, panels and talks covering all you need to know to be successful in the industry. Discussions throughout will touch on topics like "The Future of Artist – Fan Connections," "New Revenue Streams," and "The Current State of Electronic Music - What’s Coming Next," with guests speakers from Beatport, Spotify, Spinnin’ Records, and artists like Eats Everything and Dave Clarke, as well as artists like Skream, AND.ID, Dave Clarke, DJ Pierre, DJ Spen, Sebo K, Mat Playford, Psycatron, and Dave Seaman performing in clubs and venues around the city by night. The first annual BMC takes place from April 11-12. More info at www.brightonmusicconference.co.uk. [Chandler Shortlidge]
9. Electronic Music Conference (EMC) [Sydney, Australia]
Australia finally got its very own conference for electronic and dance music in 2012, the aptly titled Electronic Music Conference. The Sydney based event quickly outgrew its humble beginnings, last year upgrading to the impressive Carriageworks venue for three days of keynotes, panels, production masterclasses and discussion forums. Falling in early December, EMC coincides with the mammoth Stereosonic festival, which means some of the biggest names in EDM rub shoulders with Australia's best local talent, making for a must-attend event for fans and industry heads alike. And the cherry-on-top kicker? Throughout EMC week, Sydney comes to life in a flurry of club nights and parties hosted throughout the city (here's just a taste of what was on offer in 2013). [Henry Johnstone]
10. South By Southwest (SXSW) [Austin, USA]
Since it's inception in 1989, SXSW has continued to grow in size every year and is now the biggest event of its kind in the world. A music, film and interactive festival all rolled into one, SXSW is nine consecutive days of panels, films, workshops and of course live music performances from 2,200 official performers and bands playing in more than 100 venues across the city. This year's edition is already in full swing, though if you're thinking of heading to Texas for see what it's all about, there's still plenty of time left to catch an abundance of shows. Here's our picks for this year. [Pulse HQ]